Francia Raisa Says Her Kidney Donation to Selena Gomez Had ‘Nothing’ to Do With Their Falling Out
In the dazzling world of Hollywood, friendships and fallouts are often as public as the movies they star in. The tale of Francia Raisa and Selena Gomez is a story of resilience, personal growth, and the enduring power of friendship.
Francia Raisa, at the age of 35, took center stage at the inaugural Rare Impact Fund Benefit in Los Angeles on October 4. While there, she cleared the air, explaining that her decision to donate a kidney to Selena Gomez in 2017 had nothing to do with their brief falling out as friends.
Growing Pains and Personal Journeys
“Sometimes, I feel people need to spend time apart to grow individually and then come back together,” she said, her eyes reflecting the wisdom of her words. “We had to almost go on our own journey and grow. I am very happy in my career, and I don’t know if I would be able to do that if I didn’t really take some time for myself and figure out what the hell was going on with me, because I wasn’t okay.”
“I’m okay now,” Francia added, “and just for the record, it had nothing to do with the kidney.”
The Hollywood Rollercoaster
The drama in their friendship played out in the public eye in 2022. Selena and Francia, close friends for years, seemed to have a falling out. The root of the issue was Selena’s statement in an interview, where she declared that Taylor Swift was her “only friend” in Hollywood. This statement seemed to upset Francia, who commented “Interesting” on an Instagram post about it, albeit quickly deleting the comment. She also unfollowed Selena on social media, sparking a heated exchange.
Selena responded with a dig at Francia, writing in the comments section of a TikTok video about the drama, “Sorry I didn’t mention every person I know.”
Navigating the Bonds of Friendship
In her interview, Francia delved into the complexities of their friendship. She explained that she and Selena “trauma bonded” when they became friends—a beautiful but sometimes challenging connection. “People grow, relationships change. But obviously, I treat her like my little sister, she treats me like her older sister. I don’t know any relationship that’s perfect. They all go through things.”
“When our situation came up, and everything, no, I never pictured that, but obviously, I never regretted it,” Francia said, referencing her falling out with Selena. “I am happy that we are here today, celebrating and supporting each other.”
Francia also noted that she’s a different person now than when she was having problems with Selena. “Even when Selena turned 30, I’m like, ‘It’s different, isn’t it?’ and she was like, ‘Yeah.’ I said, ‘Welcome to your 30s. Now we can get to know each other again.'”
Setting the Record Straight
Francia had previously shut down rumors of a feud with Selena on a podcast in August. “You guys, there’s no beef, just salsa,” she said, displaying her signature humor. Francia also admitted that it’s been hard seeing false headlines about her friendship with Selena. “Whenever I thought about my name being in the press, I never thought about it like this,” Francia admitted.
A Heartwarming Reunion
Selena, too, showed her love for Francia on her 35th birthday in July. “Happiest of birthdays to this special human being,” Selena wrote, alongside several photos of the pair. “No matter where life takes us, I love you.” Francia “liked” the post on Instagram and then followed Selena back on the app, marking a heartwarming reunion.